An Extensive New Study Should End The Debate On Which Bathrooms Transgender People Should Use

There has never been a documented case of a trans person harassing a cis person in the bathroom. There have, however, been multiple documented cases of cis people harassing trans people in the bathroom. In fact, more Republican congressmen have been arrested for misconduct in the bathroom than trans people. But this hasn’t stopped Republicans from turning trans people into their latest punching bag after their battle against marriage equality hit its expiration date.

The argument from the right-wing has been that allowing trans people to use the bathroom they see most fit for themselves presents a danger to cis people, especially women and children. This, of course, is an age old tactic; conflating queerness with sexual aggression and predation. But yet another study, this one from Springer, once again blows this up as nothing more than a harmful stereotype that does more to negatively impact the lives of trans people than it does to protect cis people.

They analyzed different areas of Massachusetts, some that have ordinances explicitly protecting trans people from discrimination in bathrooms, some that didn’t. They also analyzed criminal incident reports of assault, sex crimes, and voyeurism in those areas.

The study found…

“Fears of increased safety and privacy violations as a result of nondiscrimination laws are not empirically grounded.”

Which, translated, means that allowing trans people to use the public restroom they feel is most appropriate, holds zero consequence for cis people. All it does is improve the lives of trans people.

Conversely, the misinformation campaign about trans people using public spaces, and the rash of so-called ‘bathroom bills’ in conservative states and counties, has caused an uptick in harassment directed at trans people from cis people. A survey conducted in 2016 from the National Center for Transgender Equality, using a sample size of 27,715 trans people, found that 12% had experienced verbal harassment in the bathroom, 1% had experienced physical assault, and 1% experienced sexual assault.

People were shaking their heads that we even needed this study in the first place…

Whoa, whoa. Hold on. Are you saying that trans people *aren’t* assaulting cis women & kids in public washrooms at every turn?

Because there’s at least like *checks notes* 12 internet people posting homemade Microsoft Paint graphs who would disagree. https://t.co/DMuwxm8PB9

No, trans people don't pretend to be trans and risk increased harassment or bullying in order to “sneak” into bathrooms. I suppose if you need a study to confirm common sense, here you go! https://t.co/JWBZSQ7TYe

The only time I feel assaulted by trans folks in the restroom is when they are super cute and i trip because I am super queer and then I have to cover that silliness up and act casual. My heart and nerves! Or if they have super strong eyeliner game. But I am always hurt by that.

I'm not worried about trans people in the bathroom with me, I am worried about 20-something drunk girls who can't help but touch my boobs/ass/everywhere! How can I be protected from that? I mean I know the answer is stop going to bars, but that isn't the point here!

Unfortunately, facts don’t always matter when it comes to invented mass-hysteria. All we can do is keep moving forward and for those who can be visible safely, doing so, because visibility changes hearts and minds.